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Welcome to Decoy-Dux, specializing in quality representative antique, vintage and contemporary duck, goose and shorebird decoys and carvings, as well as miniatures, books, paintings and other related collectibles.
D1004: Wood Pigeon Decoy, Daniel & Will Foster, Cockermouth, UK
Innovative wood pigeon decoy by Daniel and Will Foster, circa 1930s, Cockermouth, UK. Daniel was the gamekeeper at Cockermouth Castle in the Lake District of the UK. The decoy is a multi-media shell covered with a heavy ribbed cloth fabric and hand painted. It’s in original paint with light soiling. The folding bill is an ingenious component made of cast metal that snaps into place when the decoy is in use but releases for storage. Made with great attention to detail and accurately colored, the decoy measures 14” in length, 5” in width and is about 4” deep. Meal grommets serve as eyes. Although difficult to see in the photos, it is cold stamped “DF” twice on the inside of the shell and numbered “4” in paint. His birds were undoubtably the most technologically advanced of their era! Besides the shell decoys, there are a few full-bodied feeding decoys and at least one flyer known by him. Although his total output is unknown, it is certainly in the low 2-figure range.
Price: $475.00
M040: Mort Fadum Mixed Media Fishing Diorama
Interesting mixed media diorama or shadowbox featuring a carved life-size rainbow trout along with other vintage fishing tackle and memorabilia by Morten "Mort" Fadum (1946-2023), Colorado Springs, Colorado, signed and dated 1986 on the lower right front. The trout is in mint condition, carved and finished completely in-the-round, including the backside.
Price: $395.00
D1003: Excellent Trulock & Harriss Wood Pigeon Decoy, London, UK, Circa 1880s
Classic wood pigeon decoy from the famous gunsmith firm of Trulock & Harriss, Suffolk, England, circa 1880s. Their decoys are considered to be the premier examples of English wood pigeon decoys known. In an unusual pale grey plumage (I’ve seen this finish in a handful of their decoys, including Lot 490, Guyette & Deeter April 2015 aucton. These decoys but they are far from common, if not rare), it is in strong original paint other than fr some touchup around the eyes which are accurate and well executed replacements. This example is finely crafted with detailed shoulder, wing and tail carving, glass eyes and molded lead bill. The decoy exhibits overall feather carving with the breast and throat feathers carved in a checkered pattern, carved edging on the wing coverts, carved and raised primaries and a fluted tail. It is posed in an alertpostur. The underside of the tail is exposed bare wood. A woven burlap-like textile covering seen on the underside of the tails of some of their decoys that originally stabilized and protected the tail from breakage is missing. The decoy shows minor wear with light wear to the edges of the wings and chipping and roughness at the wingtips. One corner of the tail has chipped off while the other has a tight crack in it. The decoy is structurally sound with the lower portion of the belly and top of the head being laminated to the body of the bird. Measuring 14 inches in length, it has three stick holes in the belly, the outer two of which were intended for short doweled legs for setting the decoy out on the ground which have been filled in. Although who carved these decoys for Trulock and Harriss is not known, a strong argument can be made that the birds were made by the same craftsmen tasked with making the gunstocks for the gunsmith's primary product, perhaps on a seasonal basis or as a filler during slack periods. Stand included.
Price: $2295.00
D1002: Classic Trulock & Harriss Wood Pigeon Decoy, Circa 1880s
Classic wood pigeon decoy from the famous gunsmith firm of Trulock & Harriss, Suffolk, England, circa 1880s. Their decoys are considered to be the premier examples of English wood pigeon decoys known. In breeding plumage, it is cold-stamped “A. Lipscomb” twice. This stamp begs the question, was Lipscomb the maker or owner? A label on bottom reads, “Collection by D. Marsh, _____ by Trulock & Harris (sic), 1983, original paint”. There is also a newsprint transfer visable in the last photo on the decoy’s belly from a paper it was once wrapped in. This example is finely crafted with detailed shoulder, wing and tail carving, glass eyes and molded lead bill. The softly-blended paint with an excellent patina is strong and original. The decoy exhibits overall feather carving with the breast and throat feathers carved in a checkered pattern, carved edging on the wing coverts, carved and raised primaries and a fluted tail. The head is uplifted slightly. The underside of the tail is exposed bare wood. A woven burlap-like textile covering seen on the underside of the tails of some Trulock & Harriss decoys that originally stabilized and protected the tail from breakage is missing. The decoy shows light to moderate in-use wear with light chipping to the edges of the wings and chipping and roughness at the wingtips. The decoy is structurally sound with the lower portion of the belly and top of the head being laminated to the body of the bird. Measuring 16 inches in length, it has two original dowels set in the bottom to serve as legs for setting the deoy on the ground. Although who carved these decoys for Trulock and Harriss is not known, a strong argument can be made that the birds were made by the same craftsmen tasked with making the gunstocks for the gunsmith's primary product, perhaps on a seasonal basis or as a filler during slack periods. See Guyette & Deeter auction catalogs from February 2015 and April 2015 for similar examples.
Price: $2595.00
D0007: Fine Hollow Ontario Canada Goose, 3Q, 20C
Fine hollow-bodied, glass-eyed Canada goose decoy by Danny Wigle, Amhurstburg, Ontario, circa 3rd quarter, 20th century. Bearing strong Ben Schmidt influence, this exceptional decoy is in detailed original feather paint with a nice patina, showing very minor in-use wear. it has raised and crossed wingtips with carved primaries and a fluted tail. Each scalloped feather on the body is carved in outline as well. As seen in the photos, the joint where the neck joins the body has some slight separation but is firmly joined. The well-carved head and neck have a rasped finish. The bill is well detailed with carved mandibles, nail and nostrils. The decoy measures 24 inches in length, 9 inches in width and stands almost 11 inches tall at the head.
Price: $1950.00
D0994: Rare Hudson Canada Goose, Pascagoula, Circa late 1920s
Rare special order Vac-Sta Deluxe Model feather-cut Canada goose decoy by the Hudson Decoy Company, Pascagoula, Mississippi, circa 1927. The Hudson Decoy Company was formed by Frank L. Hudson and partners in 1925 when they purchased the assets of the Grubbs Manufacturing Company. Hudson patented the Mono-Sta, Duo-Sta and Vac-Sta designs in 1929. Hudson continued to manufacture decoys until 1940 when a major fire caused the company to cease operations. In 1941, Roy Cumbest purchased the patents, what remained of their equipment and the right to continue making the Hudson-style decoys. This decoy, constructed with the Vac-Sta design, is in an aesthetically pleasing working scalloped feather repaint coated with a thin coat of shellac. There are two tacks in the dividing wall of the body cavities where a card was once attached by the factory identifying the decoy as being made by Hudson. The glass-eyed decoy measures 21" in length and stands 9.5" high at the head.
Price: $450.00
D0993: Pascagoula Canada Goose Decoy, C2Q, 20C
Rare special order Vac-Sta Deluxe Model feather-cut Canada goose decoy by either the Hudson Decoy Company or the Cumbest Decoy Company, Pascagoula, Mississippi circa 1925 - 1944. The Hudson Decoy Company was formed by Frank L. Hudson and partners in 1925 when they purchased the assets of the Grubbs Manufacturing Company. Hudson patented the Mono-Sta, Duo-Sta and Vac-Sta designs in 1929. Hudson continued to manufacture decoys until 1940 when a major fire caused the company to cease operations. In 1941, Roy Cumbest purchased the patents, what remained of their equipment and the right to continue making the Hudson-style decoys. Under the Cumbest Decoy Company, the Hudson designs were made until sometime in 1943 when demands of the war effort caused Cumbest to cease decoy operations. The company, along with the patented designs of Frank Hudson, was purchased by Animal Trap Company of North America1n 1944. This decoy is in pleasing well-executed working feather repaint with a thin coat of shellac. SOLD
